User Agent and Assistive Technology Support Notes

If
alt+numPad5 is pressed when a link has focus, the sentence is read without changing
the focus.

If Ctrl+NumPad 5 is
pressed when the link has focus, the entire paragraph is read without changing the
focus.

Window-Eyes 5.5 has hotkeys to read the current sentence and current paragraph.

To surf the internet with WindowEyes you must be in browse mode. Current sentence and
current paragraph hot keys do not work in browse mode in version 6.1.

The factory default settings for reading surrounding link context are as follows:

Desktop settings:

Character = CTRL-NUMPAD-LEFT ARROW

Word = CTRL-NUMPAD-RIGHT ARROW

Line = CTRL-NUMPAD-CENTER

Sentence = Not available in Browse mode

(Next Sentence command is undefined by default on Desktop mode but the next line
is the DOWN Arrow.)

Next Paragraph = P

Prior Paragraph = Shift P

Current Paragraph = Not Available in Browse mode

Laptop

Character = ALT-SHIFT-LESS THAN

Word Prior = ALT-SHIFT-J

Word = ALT-SHIFT-K

Word Next = ALT-SHIFT-L

Sentence Prior = ALT-SHIFT-7

Sentence = unavailable in browse mode

Sentence Next = unavailable in browse mode

Paragraph = Undefined on Laptop by default

Line Prior = ALT-SHIFT-U

Line = ALT-SHIFT-I

Line Next = ALT-SHIFT-O

The "speak parent element" command in Fire Vox (Ctrl+Shift+u) works without changing the focus. Fire Vox is a free screen reader
designed specifically for Firefox 1.0 and later. It supports Windows, Macintosh, and
Linux.

Description

The objective of this technique is to identify the purpose of a link from the link in
its paragraph context. The paragraph enclosing the link provides context for an
otherwise unclear link when the paragraph is the nearest enclosing block-level ancestor
element. The description lets a user distinguish this link from links in the Web page
that lead to other destinations and helps the user determine whether to follow the link.
Note that simply providing the URI of the destination is generally not sufficiently
descriptive.

Note: These descriptions will be most useful to the user if the additional information
needed to understand the link precedes the link. If the additional information follows
the link, there can be confusion and difficulty for screen reader users who are
reading through the page in order (top to bottom).

Examples

Example 1

Announcements column on a Folk Festival Web page.

Example Code:

<h3>The final 15</h3>
<p>Coming soon to a town near you...the final 15 in the
National Folk Festival lineup.
<a href="final15.html">[Read more...]</a>
</p>
<h3>Folk artists get awards</h3>
<p>Performers from the upcoming National Folk Festival receive
National Heritage Fellowships.
<a href="nheritage.html">[Read more...]</a>
</p>
…

Tests

Procedure

Check that text of the link combined with the text of its enclosing paragraph
describes the purpose of the link.

Expected Results

The above checks are true.

If this is a sufficient technique for a success criterion, failing this test procedure does not necessarily mean that the success criterion has not been satisfied in some other way, only that this technique has not been successfully implemented and can not be used to claim conformance.

Techniques are Informative

Techniques are informative—that means they are not required. The basis for determining conformance to WCAG 2.0 is the success criteria from the WCAG 2.0 standard—not the techniques. For important information about techniques, please see the Understanding Techniques for WCAG Success Criteria section of Understanding WCAG 2.0.